Students living in Travelodge hotels two weeks after term started

STUDENTS from one of Scotland’s top universities are living in Travelodge hotels more than two weeks after term started.

The 21 freshers at Edinburgh University have been holed up at two budget hotels since September 11 after education chiefs failed to find them permanent accommodation.

Despite the University’s Accommodation Services purchasing more than 1000 beds in privately-operated student residences, the institute has been unable to honour its pledge to house all its first-year-students.

It is believed that the Travelodge rooms are costing the University £1,000 a day

The undergraduates are currently staying at Travelodge Hotels at Cameron Toll and St.Marys Street in the city, with the university footing the bill.

Rooms at the hotels are advertised at between £25 and £55 per night, and could be costing Edinburgh University a total of around £1000 a day.

A spokesman for the university admitted the students had still not been housed, but said it was working on resolving the issue.

James McAsh, the president of Edinburgh University Students’ Association, said he was not impressed.

“I’m personally outraged at the situation. The university should prioritise students over its corporate interests,” he said.

A spokesman at Edinburgh University said: “21 students are still in the Travelodge and we genuinely do expect the numbers to drop in the next two weeks and the decrease in numbers to continue.

“We haven’t received any complaints from students.”

Last September it was revealed that more than 60 first-year students were being housed at Queen Margaret University halls, on the outskirts of Musselburgh, resulting in 40-minute commutes to classes.

In January, new rector Peter McColl said he was “shocked” to discover that rooms were being used for guests attending conferences while this disruption was taking place, and called for a review.